Control mechanism



1964 J. H. HAM, JR, ETAL 3,159,324

CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @tmuuu C.SPR/NGMAN QLATZW ATTOPNEV Dec. 1, 1964 J, H. HAM, JR, ETAL 3,159,324

CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3,159,324 CQNTRGLMECHANTSN dairies H. Ham, 3%., Indianapolis, James Ritchey, Qanmei, andCharles Springrnan, Beech Grove, said Ham and said Ritchey assignors toFell Teiephone Lahoratories, Incorporated, and said dpringman assignorto Western Electric Qompany, incorporated, both of New York, N.Y., andboth corporations of New York Filed duly 1, i963, Ser. No. 291,567 8Claims. (Cl. 1226-53) This pertains to control mechanisms andparticularly to control mechanisms responsive to deviations in thesurface of a web.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel control mechanism thatis responsive to deviations, such as perforations or protrusions, in thesurface of a web moving relative to the control mechanism.

This and other objects of this invention are achieved in an illustrativeembodiment thereof wherein the control mechanism comprises means forsensing the deviations in the surface of the web, the sensing meansconsisting of a pair of adjacent members which ride on the surface ofthe web. The sensing members have a first position relative to oneanother wherein neither member engages a deviation in the surface of theweb and a second position relative to one another wherein one of themembers engages a deviation in the surface of the web. A first of themembers includes a deflecting surface, and the second of the membersincludes an arresting surface intersecting the deflecting surface of thefirst member. The arresting surface extends beyond the deflectingsurface when the members are in their first relative position andextends short of the deflecting surface when the members are in theirsecond relative position.

A control member, which is movable along a generally planar path betweena first and a second position, is biased toward the deflecting surfaceof the first sensing member, and when it is in engagement with thedeflecting surface, it biases the first sensing member into engagementwith the web. The control member is also biased toward its firstposition, the path of travel of the control member as it moves from itssecond to its first position being intersectable by the arrestingsurface of the second sensing member. The control member when inengagement with the arresting surface biases the second sensing memberinto engagement with the web.

Thus when the sensing members are in their first relative position, thecontrol member in moving from its secnd to its first position isarrested by the arresting surface of the second sensing member, and whenthe sensing iembers move to their second relative position responsive toa deviation in the web, the control member is no longer arrested by thearresting surface of the second member and thereby moves to its firstposition.

Means are provided for moving the web, and means responsive to theposition of the control member enable and disable the moving means. Theenabling and disabling means enables the moving means when the controlmember is intermediate its first and second position and disables themoving means when the control member is in its first position.

A complete understanding of the invention and of these and otherfeatures and advantages thereof may be gained from consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing wherein one embodiment of the invention isillustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawingis for the purposes of illustration and description and is not to beconstrued as defining the limits of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the control C) ice mechanismof this invention operating in conjunction with a web havingperforations therein;

PEG. 2 is a side view of the deflecting member of the control mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the arresting member of the control mechanism;and

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are side views of the control mechanism showing thesequence of operation thereof.

Referring now to the drawing and FIG. 1 in particular, the controlmechanism of this invention is employed in conjunction with a web 10having deviations, such as erforations 12, in the surface thereof. Theperforatigns 12 may be formed in the web 10 purposely as a form ofcoding or the perforations may be due to imperfections in the web. Theweb it is moved relative to the control mechanism by such means as apair of spaced sprocket wheels 14 and 16 which are positioned to therear of the web and respectively mesh with a pair of spaced columns ofsprocket holes 18 and 26 in the web, the sprocket wheels being fixedlymounted on a shaft 22 and being rotated in a counterclockwise directionby means such as a motor 24 coupled to the shaft by a Slip clutch 26.

The control mechanism is positioned forward of the web id and includes acontrol member 28 that is pivotally mounted on a pin 3% extendingthrough an aperture in one end of the control member. The control member28 is biased toward the web It) by means such as a spring member 32having one end thereof secured to the pin 3t and the other end thereofsecured to the control member. In addition, the control member 28 ismovable along a generally planar path between an upper and a lowerportion by means such as a plunger 34 that is positioned intermediatethe Web 10 and the control member and has a stud 36 that extends into anaperture 38 in the control member. The bias of the spring member 32maintains the control member 28 positioned over the stud 36, and upwardor downward movement of the plunger 34 causes corresponding movement ofthe control member, or conversely, upward or downward movement of thecontrol member causes corresponding movement of the plunger. The controlmember 28 and plunger 34 are biased toward an upward position by meanssuch as a spring member 49 acting on the plunger.

The control mechanism further comprises a means for sensing theperforation 12 in the web 10 consisting of a deflecting member 42 and anarresting member 44 positioned intermediate the web and the controlmember 28. As shown in FIG. 2, the deflecting member 42 includes amounting portion 45 at the lower end thereof and a stem portion 46intermediate the lower and upper ends thereof. The upper end of thedeflecting member 42 has a sensing portion 48 that extends toward theweb lid and a cam portion 50 that extends toward the control member 28.The sensing portion 48 tapers to a rounded point that includes a webengaging surface 52 while the cam portion 59 includes a deflectingsurface 54 that comprises a forward surface 55 and an inclined surface56 in series with one another.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3, the arresting member 44 includes amounting portion 58 at the lower end thereof and a stem portion 6!)intermediate the lower and upper ends thereof. The upper end of thearresting member 44 has a sensing portion 62 that extends toward the web10 and a cam portion 64 that extends toward the control member 2%. Thesensing portion 62 tapers to a blunt point that includes a web engagingsurface 65 while the cam portion 64 includes a forward surface 66 thatextends generally parallel to the path of movement of the control member28 and an arresting surface 68 that extends generally perpendicular tothe path of movement of the control member.

thereof.

Turning now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the deflecting mem ber 42 andarresting member 44 are pivotally mounted adjacent to one another on apin 6h that extends through apertures in the mounting portion 45 and 58respectively The deflecting and arresting members 42 and 44 are solocated with respect to the control member 28 that when the controlmember is in its upward position, it is in juxtaposition with theforward surface 55 of the deflecting member and the forward surface 66of the arresting member, and when the control member is in its downwardposition, it isin juxtaposition with the inclined surface 56 of thedeflecting member and the stern portion 69 and the arresting memberFurthermore, the deflecting and arresting members 42 and 44 are solocated with respect to the web that as the web moves relative to thedeflecting and arresting members an unperforated longitudinal portion ofthe web moves past the sensing portion 43 of the deflecting member and aperforated longitudinal portion of the web moves past the sensingportion 62 of the arresting member. Hence, when the deflecting andarrcstingmembers 42 and 44 are biased toward the web lit, the deflectingV member is located in a single position, that is, with-the sensingportion 4S'thereof in engagement with the surface of the web. Thedeflecting surface 54 of the deflecting member 42 is thereby positioneda constant distance from the surface of the web 1th The arresting member44, on the other hand, is located in either one of two positions, thatis, with the sensing portion 62 thereof in engagement with the surfaceof the web id or with the sensing portion 7 62 thereof extending into ape'rforationlZ. in the web.

The apertures in the mounting portions 45 and 58 of the deflectingmember 42 and arresting member 44 are located so that the axis aboutwhich the members rotate is to the rear of the cam portions and 64respectively thereof. Thus, an upward force exerted against thearresting surface 68 of the arresting member 44 produces aclockwise'turning moment that rotatesthe member toward the web It).However, the deflecting and arresting members 42 and 44 are designed sothat the centers of gravity thereof are forward of their respective axisof V rotation.

This produces a clockwise turning moment that tends to rotate themembers toward the control member 28,

The distance between the web, engaging surface 52 and the forwardsurface 55 of the deflecting member 42 is a little greater than thedistance between the web engaging surface 65 and the forward surface 66of the arresting member 44. In addition; the arresting surface 63 ofthe,

'member moves into aperforation 12 in the web.

Referring now also to FIG. 4, as a result of the above relationships,when the control member 28 is in its upward position, it'rests on theforward surface 55 of they deflecting member 42 and biases the'webengaging sur-v face 52 of the deflecting member into engagement witharresting surface 63 of the arresting member back nto engagement withthe inclined surface 56 of the deflecting member. Thereafter when theplunger 34 is released and the spring member as moves the plunger andthereby the control member 28 upward, the control member moves along theinclined surface 56 of the deflecting member 42 into engagement with thearresting surface 68 of the arresting member 44-, whereupon, as shown inFIG. 5, the

movement of the control member 28 is halted.

The bias of the spring member 32 presses the control member 23:rearwardly against the inclined surfacezfi of the deflecting member 42and thereby presses'the web engaging surface 52' of the deflectingmember into engagement with the web 10. In addition, the bias of thespring member 48 presses the control member upwardly against thearresting surface efi'of the arresting member 44 As set forth above, dueto the position of the axis of rotation of the arresting member as withrespect to the cam portion 64 thereof, this upward force produces acounterclockwise turning moment that presses the web engaging surface 65into engagement with the web it Thereafter, when, as shown inFlG. 6, aperforation 12 j in the web It) moves before the sensing portion 62 ofthe arresting member 44, the sensing portion moves into the perforationand the'arresting member pivots rearwardly.

The arresting surface 68 of the arresting member 44 moves to a positionwherein it extends short of the inclined surface 56 of the deflectingmember 42, and

hence the arresting surface no longer impedes the movement of thecontrol member 28. The control member 23 under the'biasof the springmember 4i acting upon the plunger 34, therefore moves forward along theinclined surface 56 to its upward position shown in PEG. 4.

-As previously stated, the control member 28 in its upward positionengages the forward surface 5 5 of the deflecting member 42 and under,the bias of the spring member 32 presscsthe web engaging surface 52 ofthe deflecting member against the web 10. Since the distance between theweb engaging surface 52 and the forward surface 55 of the deflectingmember, 42 is greater than the distance between the web engaging surface65 and the forward surface 66 of the arresting member 44, the con-' trolmember 28 does not bear against the arresting member, Thus the onlyforces acting on the arresting member 44 are the clockwise turningmoment exerted by the center of gravity of the arresting member and theclockwise turning moment generated by the engagement of i the bottomedge of the perforations 12 in the web 16 V with the bottom edge of thesensing portion 62 of the I control mechanism is once more disengagedand to; reengage the control mechanism the plunger 34 is depressed theweb 1G. The arresting member 44, due to the clockcontrol member 28 isthereby moveddownward, the con-' trol member under the bias of thespring member 32 moves along the forward surface 55 and inclined surface56 of the deflecting member 42 onto the forward surface 56 ofthe'arresting member 44 and then rearwardly along the mresting member.These forces combine to rotate the arresting member 44 forwardly intoengagement with the control member 28, removing the sensing portion 62of the arresting member from the, perforation 12. The

to again move the control member 28 to the position shown in PEG; 5,wherein it is situated beneath the arresting surface 68 of the arrestingmember 44.

It is seen from the foregoing description that the control member 28changes its position responsive to the perforations 12 in the web 1%This change in position of the control member 28 is employed to actuateelectrical or mechanicaldevices to achieve particularfunctions. In theapparatus shown in the drawing, the movement of the control member 23 isemployed to control the moves ment of the web it A ratchet wheel 70- isfixedly mounted on the shaft 22, and a pawl 72, pivotally mounted on apin '74, has a rearwardly extending arm 75 that extends intojuxtaposition with the teeth on the ratchet wheel and a forwardlyextending arm 76 that extends into juxtaposition with the free end ofthe control member The free end of the control member 28 is reduced 28.in cross section so that it may be bent to adjust the relationshipbetween the control member and the pawl '72. A spring member 78 biasesthe pawl 72 in a clockwise direction, tending to move the rearwardlyextending arm 75 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 70.

when the control member 28 is in its upward position, shown in FIG. 4,it is disengaged from the pawl 72, the free end of the control memberoverlying the forwardly extending arm 76 of the pawl. The pawl 72 underthe bias of the spring member 73 is therefore positioned with therearwardly extending arm 75 thereof in engagement with the ratchet wheel76. The pawl 72 prevents the ratchet wheel 7 t3 and thereby the shaft 22from rotating in a counterclockwise direction, and consequently the webIt) is held stationary, the torque generated by the motor 24 beingdissipated in the slip clutch 26.

When, however, the control member 28 is moved to its lower position, thefree end thereof is deflected to a position beneath the forwardlyextending arm 76 of the pawl 72 and when the control member moves upwardto its arrested position, shown in FIG. 5, wherein it is in engagementwith the arresting surface 68 of the arresting member 44, the free endof the control member pivots the pawl in a counterclockwise direction,moving the rearwardly extending arm '75 out of engagement with theratchet wheel 70. The shaft 22 is no longer immobilized, and the motor24 acting through the slip clutch rotates the shaft in acounterclockwise direction whereby the sprocket wheels 14- and 1erespectively meshing with the sprocket holes 18 and 20 in the web 10move the web upward.

When, as shown in FIG. 6, a perforation 12 in the web It moves beforethe arresting member 44, the arresting member moves into theperforation, and the control member 28 moves to its upward position. Asthe control member 28 moves upward, it is deflected forward by theinclined surface 55 of the deflecting member 42, and at the same timethe free end of the control member further pivots the pawl 72 in acounterclockwise direction. These two occurrences combine to move thefree end of the control member 28 beyond the end of the forwardlyextending arm 76 of the pawl 72. The spring member 78 is therebypermitted to pivot the pawl in a clockwise direction and move therearwardly extending arm 75 thereof into engagement with the ratchetwheel 79 to arrest the rotation of the shaft 22. The rotation of thesprocket wheels 14 and 16 is thereby arrested and the movement of theweb it) is halted.

Between the time that the arresting member 44 moves into a perforation12 in the web 10 and the time that the movement of the web is halted,the web continues to move a small distance upward. The perforation 12therefore moves above the arresting member 44 and the arresting memberitself pivots forwardly into engagement with the control member 28.Consequently, when the control member 28 is again moved to its downwardposition, whereby it is moved beneath the forwmdly extending arm 76 ofthe pawl 72, and it is permitted to move upward, it is again arrested byits engagement with the arresting surface 68 of the arresting member44-. The pawl 72 is again pivoted to move the rearwardly extending arm75 thereof out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 78, and the motor 24is again able to rotate the sprocket wheels 14 and 16 to reinstitute theupward movement of the web it Although the control mechanism has beendescribed as operating in conjunction with a web It? having deviationsin the form of perforations 12, the control mechanism functions inessentially the same manner when employed in conjunction with a webhaving deviations in the form of protrusions. The only change that ismade is that the deflecting member 42 and arresting member 44- are solocated with respect to the web in that a longitudinal portion of theweb having no protrusions therein moves past the arresting member whilethe longitudinal portion of the web having protrusions therein movespast the deflecting member.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanism for controlling the longitudinal movement of a web, theweb including an unperforated longitudinal portion and a perforatablelongitudinal portion, the perforatable portion being perforated toarrest the movement of the web, the mechanism comprising:

a deflecting member for riding on the unperforated longitudinal portion,the deflecting member including a deflecting surface spaced a constantdistance from the surface of the web;

an arresting member for riding on the perforatable longitudinal portion,the arresting member being movable between a first position wherein itrests on the i web and a second position wherein it extends into aperforation in the web, the arresting member having an arresting surfaceintersecting and extending beyond the deflecting surface of thedeflecting member when the arresting member is in its first position andextending short of the deflecting surface when the arresting member isin its second position;

a control member movable along a generally planar path between a firstand a second position, the control member being biased toward its firstposition and toward the deflecting surface of the deflecting member, thecontrol member biasing the deflecting member against the web, the pathof travel of the control member as it moves from its second to its firstposition being intersectable by the arresting surface of the arrestingmember, and the control member when in engagement with the arrestingsurface, biasing the arresting member into engagement with the web,whereby when the arresting member is in its first position, the controlmember in moving from its second to its first position is arrested bythe arresting surface of the arresting member, and when the arrestingmember is moved to its second position responsive to a perforation inthe web the control member is permitted to move to its first position;

means for moving the web; and

means responsive to the position of the control member for enabling anddisabling the moving means, the enabling-disabling means enabling themoving means when the control member is arrested by the arrestingsurface and disabling the moving means when the control member is in itsfirst position.

2. A control mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the enabling-disablingmeans comprises:

a ratchet wheel fixedly coupled to the moving means;

and

a pawl having a first end thereof extending into juxtaposition with theteeth of the ratchet wheel and a second end thereof extending intojuxtaposition with the control member, the pawl being biased into ablocking position wherein the first end thereof engages the teeth on theratchet wheel and the second end thereof extends into the path of travelof the control member, the control member in moving from its second toits arrested position deflecting the pawl from the blocking position andthe control member in moving from its arrested position to its firstposition permitting the pawl to return to its blocking position.

3. A mechanism for controlling the longitudinal movement of a web havingdeviations in the surface thereof, the mechanism comprising:

means for sensing the deviations in the surface, the sensing meanscomprising a pair of adjacent members which ride on the surface of theweb, the members having a first position relative to one another whereinneither member engages a deviation in the surface and a second positionrelative to one another wherein one of the members engages a deviationin the surface,

a first of the members including a deflecting surface and the second ofthe members including an arresting surface intersecting and extendingbeyond the deflecting surface when the members are in their first rela-7 tive position and extending short of the deflecting surface whenthe'members are in their second relative position; l a control membermovable along a generally planar path between a first and a secondposition, the control member being biased toward the deflecting surfaceof the first sensing memberand when in engagement with the deflectingsurf-ace biasing the first sensing member into engagement with the web,the control member also being biased toward its first position, the pathof travel ofthe control member as it moves from its second to its firstposition being intersectable by the arresting surface of the secondsensing member, and theycontrol member when in engagement with Vthe'arresting surface biasing thesecond sensing member into engagementwith the web, whereby when the sensing members are in their firstrelative position, the control member'in' moving from its second to itsfirst position is arrested by the'arresting surface of the secondsensing member, and when the sensing members move to their secondrelative position responsive to a deviation in the Web, the controlmemher is no longer arrested by the arresting surface of the secondmember and thereby moves to its first position; 7 means for moving theweb; and means responsive to the'positionpof the control member forenabling and disabling the moving means, the enabling-disabling meansenabling the moving means when the control member is arrested byv thearresting surface of the second sensing member and disabling the movingmeans when the control member is in its 7 first position. 4'. A controlmechanism actuated responsive to deviationsin the surface of a Webmoving relative thereto, the

' mechanism comprising:

means for sensing the deviations in the surface of the web, the sensingmeans comprising a pair of adiacent members which ride on the surface ofthe web, the members having a first position relative to one anotherwherein neither member engages a deviation in the surface and a'secondposition relative to one I another wherein one. of the members engages adeviation in the surface, a first of the members including adefiectingsurface and the second of the members including an arresting surfaceintersecting and 'extending'beyond the deflecting surface when themembers are in'their first relative position and extending short of thedeflecting surface when the members are in their second relativeposition; and Ta control member movable along a generally planar pathbetween a first and a second position, the control member being biasedtoward the deflecting surface 1 of the first sensing member and when inengagement j path of travel of the control member as it moves from itssecond to its first position being intersectable by V the arrestingsurface of the second'sensing member,

and the control member when in engagement with the arresting surfacebiasing the second sensing member into engagement with the Web Wherebywhen the U sensing members are in their first relative position, the

' control member in moving from its second to its first position isarrested by the arresting surface of the second sensing member, and whenthe sensing members move into their second relative position responsiveto a deviation in the Web, the control member is no longer arrested bythe arresting surface of the second member and thereby moves to itsfirst position.

-' 5. A control mechanism as in claim 4 wherein the sensing members arepositioned intermediate the control member and the Web.

6. A control mechanism as in claim 4 wherein each sensing memberincludes a sensing portion that extends the control member juxtaposedsurface of the first sensing member being greater than the farthestdistance between the web juxtaposed surface and the control memberjuxtaposed surface of the second sensing'member.

7. A control mechanism as in claim 4 wherein the sensing members arepivotally' mounted and thecenters of gravity of the members are solocated with respect to their axes of rotation that they tend to rotatetoward the con trol member.

8. A control mechanismas in claim 7 wherein the point of engagementofthe control member with the arresting surface of the second sensingmember is situated with respect to the axis of rotation of the secondsensing mem her so as to create a turning moment that biases the secondsensing member toward the web,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,750,357 Randor Mar. 11, 1930 1,895,110 Sundberg Jan. 24, 19332,172,269 Angel et al. Sept. 5,1939 2,278,196 Fluharty Mar. 31, 19423,061,150 Elsas Oct. 30, 1962

1. A MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING THE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF A WEB, THEWEB INCLUDING AN UNPERFORATED LONGITUDINAL PORTION AND A PERFORATABLELONGITUDINAL PORTION, THE PERFORATABLE PORTION BEING PERFORATED TOARREST THE MOVEMENT OF THE WEB, THE MECHANISM COMPRISING: A DEFLECTINGMEMBER FOR RIDING ON THE UNPERFORATED LONGITUDINAL PORTION, THEDEFLECTING MEMBER INCLUDING A DEFLECTING SURFACE SPACED A CONSTANTDISTANCE FROM THE SURFACE OF THE WEB; AN ARRESTING MEMBER FOR RIDING ONTHE PERFORATABLE LONGITUDINAL PORTION, THE ARRESTING MEMBER BEINGMOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN IT RESTS ON THE WEB AND ASECOND POSITION WHEREIN IT EXTENDS INTO A PERFORATION IN THE WEB, THEARRESTING MEMBER HAVING AN ARRESTING SURFACE INTERSECTING AND EXTENDINGBEYOND THE DEFLECTING SURFACE OF THE DEFLECTING MEMBER WHEN THEARRESTING MEMBER IS IN ITS FIRST POSITION AND EXTENDING SHORT OF THEDEFLECTING SURFACE WHEN THE ARRESTING MEMBER IS IN ITS SECOND POSITION;A CONTROL MEMBER MOVABLE ALONG A GENERALLY PLANAR PATH BETWEEN A FIRSTAND A SECOND POSITION, THE CONTROL MEMBER BEING BIASED TOWARD ITS FIRSTPOSITION AND TOWARD THE DEFLECTING SURFACE OF THE DEFLECTING MEMBER, THECONTROL MEMBER BIASING THE DEFLECTING MEMBER AGAINST THE WEB, THE PATHOF TRAVEL OF THE CONTROL MEMBER AS IT MOVES FROM ITS SECOND TO ITS FIRSTPOSITION BEING INTERSECTABLE BY THE ARRESTING SURFACE OF THE ARRESTINGMEMBER, AND THE CONTROL MEMBER WHEN IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ARRESTINGSURFACE, BIASING THE ARRESTING MEMBER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WEB,WHEREBY WHEN THE ARRESTING MEMBER IS IN ITS FIRST POSITION, THE CONTROLMEMBER IN MOVING FROM ITS SECOND TO ITS FIRST POSITION IS ARRESTED BYTHE ARRESTING SURFACE OF THE ARRESTING MEMBER, AND WHEN THE ARRESTINGMEMBER IS MOVED TO ITS SECOND POSITION RESPONSIVE TO A PERFORATION INTHE WEB THE CONTROL MEMBER IS PERMITTED TO MOVE TO ITS FIRST POSITION;MEANS FOR MOVING THE WEB; AND MEANS RESPONSIBLE TO THE POSITION OF THECONTROL MEMBER FOR ENABLING AND DISABLING THE MOVING MEANS, THEENABLING-DISABLING MEANS ENABLING THE MOVING MEANS WHEN THE CONTROLMEMBER IS ARRESTED BY THE ARRESTING SURFACE AND DISABLING THE MOVINGMEANS WHEN THE CONTROL MEMBER IS IN ITS FIRST POSITION.